Watchcase



[1a Mew/6m".-

G. K; COLBY.

(No Model.)

WATC-HGASE.

No. 518,712. Patented Apr. 24, 1894.

PATENT OFFICE.

' CALEB K. COLBY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

WATC H OAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,712, dated April 24, 1894. Application filed Au t 18, 1893. Serial No. 483,432. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALEB K. COLBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Watchcases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of watch cases wherein the stem of the watch or pendant is attached to an open ring or band in which the movement is mounted. A case of this class is illustrated in the Patent No. 239,7 32, granted to me April 5, 1881; and the object of the invention is to simplify and cheapen the construction of the case and render it substantially dust proof. To carry out this purpose the case is constructed as shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a diametrical, transverse section thereof in the plane of the pendant and showing the case open; and Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the case closed. In these views the pendant is represented in elevation. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the case with the pendant broken away and the front or face cap raised. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the case as it appears when closed.

or represents the back cap or half of the case, and b, the front cap or half. These caps are of substantially the same depth, and they are hinged together at on, opposite the pendant, c. The pendant is rigidly secured to a ring, d, which is adapted to receive and hold a watch movement, and is hinged at the same point to the two parts, a, and b, of the case. The same hinge pin serves for the three parts, a, b and d, and the ring is hinged at about the middle of its width or depth, so that, when the case is closed (see Figs. 1 and 4), the meeting line y of the two caps forming the inclos ing part of the case will lie in'a plane passing edgewise through the case and ring in the axis of the pendant and through the middle of the ring. The two caps, to and 1), house or inclose the ring or movement and are provided around their margins with the usual undercut and matched flanges which snap together when the caps are closed and secure the caps, one to the other, and the ring d is free within them, not necessarily touching them except at the hinge. The caps a and b have each a half-round recess, 6, at the point Where they close around and embrace the neck, 0', of the pendant, which will be, by preference, provided at this point with a packing ring, 0 of rubber, to prevent the access of dust.

The case here shown has what is called an open face, the cap I) having set in it a glass or crystal, g, through which the dial of the watch may be seen. This construction materially reduces the cost of manufacture of the case and also the amount of metal required to make it, this latter being an important item in gold cases, for which the invention is especially adapted.

By making the two caps a and b of substantially, about the same depth, as here shown, and thus bringing the meeting line y in the middle of the depth of the closed case (see Fig. 4), and hinging the ring (1 at about the middle of its width, as shown, the case may be made with plain dies, whereas, as ordinarily ,made, complicated and expensive dies are employed. Where the ring'd is out of contact with the caps a and b, about its circumference, the formation of a seating for it in the back cap is avoided, thus reducing both the labor and the quantity of material used.

I am aware that it is not new in a hunting case for a watch to bring the two outer caps together over the watch by beveling the edges of the caps, but in this construction, which relates to an entirely different kind of case, the back-cap is snapped onto the ring of the watch case and the face-cap is held by the usual spring catch operated by the push-pin of the pendant. The caps are not arranged to snap together as in my construction.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A Watch-case composed of a ring d, to hold the movement provided with a pendant or stem, and two caps, a and b, which are hinged together and to the ring d at a common point opposite to the pendant, said caps having undercut and matched marginal flanges which snap together when the caps are closed, the caps thus for the ring, as set forth.

A watch case composed of two caps hinged together and arranged to snap together when closed, a ring to hold the movement forming a housing hinged to the caps at the point where they are hinged, and a. pendant or stem secured to the said ring and provided with a, packing l 7 l 7 ring about its neck at the point where the CALEL' ('OLBL WVitnesses:

HENRY OONNETT,

PETER A. Boss.

my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

5 caps embrace said neck when the case is closed, substantiallyas set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed 

